Electrolytic cell.



C. MARSH.

ELBGTROLYTIU CELL.

APPLICATION FILED APBJB. 191s.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. W. MARSH.

BLEGTROLYTIG CELL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1913.

Ill

Patented 0t.14,191.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

narran ser ernennen w. MARSH,

TnooHnMIcaL COMPANY,

' .aren mm OF GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNO'R TO HOOKER ELEC- OF NEW YORK, N. hY., A CORPORATION F 'NEW YORK.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

intacto.

Speciicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led April 18, 1913. Serial No. 762,045.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CLARENCE W. MARSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenwich, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrolytic .cells of the diaphragm type intended especially for the decomposition of solutions of the chlorids of sodium and potassium.

A primary object of the invention 1s the provision of a construction which is apf plicable to cells having a high ampere' capacity, wherein the electrical 'connections Jf'or individual cells as well as for aserie's of cells are greatly simplified, and' j gperforated as at 19. The central' Ory-per-4 weight of metal necessary for' such connerie tiens is minimized, and wherein the instalhi;`

tion is rendered more iexible both vas :regarde the mode of electrically connecting the units and the capacity of the seriesconnected units.'

For a full lunderstanding of the invention,

- it will be described byreerence to a specific embodiment thereof', 'as shown in the accompanying drawings; wherein- Figure 1 represents two multiplefcompartment units, t.:on the right in end elevation, and that .onthe left in vertical section on line I-'fl' frFig. 2; Fig; 2 is a partialhorizontal section of one of the cells on line H-H of Fig. 1; Fig?. 3 is a perspective view of the cathode and diaphragm removed from the cell, one of the cathode pockets being in vertical section; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line lV-IV of The cell illustrated comprises a concrete cell-body consisting of a bottom 1, top 2, end-walls 3 and two intermediate transverse septa 4 4, these arts roviding three vertically-superpos an e chambers 5,ideneti be integral or constructed in several'parts, as desired. Each anode chamber 5 is along, relatively low chamber, arehedupwardl as at 6 to provide space for collection .of-c lo- 595 rin and fdr adjusting the level of the electrolyte to maintain a constant ow through the diaphragm. 7 represents the inlet for 'fresh electrolyte, and 8 a wash-out opening. 10, 10 represent in dotted lines verticallytical in form and size. The oell-bodym'ay elongated overflow apertures in the end-wall 3, through which the spent electrolyte passes from each anode chamber into an exterior acid-proof casing l1, flowing thence to the main conduit through pipes 12 which are vertically adjustable to control the level of the electrolyte in the several anode chambers. The pipes 12 are of such capacity as readily to convey both the outiiowing spent brine and the chlorin gas.

13, 18 are recessed side plates of metal, constituting the cathode chambers of the cells, and are'held- .in 'place by clamping fingers 14, whichifpa'ss'through slots in the channel-bars 15,E 'andjare pressed into engagement withthe'znarginal flanges of the fsideplates b carrie-'16. A rlhe catho es 1'7 are 'of sheet steel,` closely rated portion of the cathodes isfn-:the preferred construction, deeply flexed or'bent in such manner as to form a large number of recesses or pockets 20 which extend rearwardly into and nearly across the anode chamber 5. These several pockets 20 have perforated vertical walls constituting the cathode proper, but are closed at top and bottom by imperforate metal strips 21, 22,

welded thereto. Marginal flanges 27 are formed integral with the strips 21, 22, and are in turn secured by welding or riveting to the marginal flanges o the' side plates 13. The strips 21, 22 are overlaid with cement 28 or other insulating material resistant to chlorin. The eect of the foregoing construction is that the side-plates 13 and the cathodes '17 are united into a rigid unitary structure which can be removed from the cell by merely loosening the several f' clamps 14. T e diaphragme 18, usually of asbestos paper, are closely a plied to the cathodes 17 on the side thereo adjacent the anodes, and are secured by beads 29 of cement at their upper and lower edges.

The anodes 23 are plates of carbon or Acheson-graphite, the entire number of -anodes for one ofthe anode chambers 5, or

any number thereof, being assembled in a cement slab 26 cast around their bases, the spacing of the anode plates being such that when the slab is inserted into position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the anode plates will extend into the recesses of the cathode between the pockets 20. Each anode plate is provided with a'lead cap 24, and the several no plates constituting a single structure arel rapid upward ..ircul atior'1` of the electrolyte through the vertical anode recesses permits connected by a copper or aluminium bar 25 serving to distribute the current. The

anode plates thus assembled constitute a unitary structure which .is'readlly removable,

being secured by clamps 14 of the same character as those retaining the side plates 13.

It will be noted that whereas the pockets 20, which openinto the recessed cathode compartments 13, are deep narrow recesses having perforated slde walls and imperferate upper and lower walls, the correlated l recesses which receive the anodes are in open communication with the anode compartment 5 both at top and bottom, with the result that the chlorin gas liberated at the anodes can pass freely upward to the surface of the will induce an upward `flow of electrolyte through these recesses with a corresponding downward flow through the interspaces between the anode plates at the rear of the cell. This circulation follows the course indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, and its effect is to insure a supply of strong brine at the Vregions of most intense electrolytic action, and

to prevent to a material degree the accumulation of insoluble impurities upon the diaphragm.

The anode plates 23 extend horizontallyl and the coupling connection must be carried' 'thence downwardly and across to the cathode of the adjacent cell. In case of an installation of cells of large ampere-capacity, this saving of conductors may amount to many thousand dollars.

In operating the cell for the production of caustic soda and chlorin, the anode compartments 5 are filled with a saturated solution of brine to the bottom of the overflows 10, and a continuous inflow of brine is main- .tained through the inlet 7.V The vcathode compartments 13, as Well as the pockets 20, are preferably filled with a hydrocarbon oil for the purpose of securing a more rapid and effective removal of the caustic solution from the cathode, as is now well understood in the art. Upon passage of the current, the caustic-soda solution Hows outwardly from the pockets 420 and is continuously Withdrawn at 30 fromy beneath the liquid hydrocarbon, the hydrogen meantime escaping throu h apertures 9. The chlorin liberated at t e surface of the anode plates 23 passes upwardly to the surface of the electrolyte and is withdrawn through lpipes 12, together with the impoverished electrolyte. The' served that the cell-body in the form illustrated is perfectly symmetrical, with the result that the anodeand cathode elements are mutually interchangeable. This renders the structure extremely flexible as regards its mode. ot connection in the electric circuit. Thus, as illustrated in F ig. 1, the three `superposed cells are connected electrically electrolyte, and by its upward movement= in parallel by the conductors 29, the three cell-compartments thus constituting a single series-unit. This mode of connection involves the advantage that any individual cell-compartment may be disconnected for the purpose of cleaning or repair, the remaining cell-compartments.working under a temporary overload, it being therefore unnecessary to disconnect the entire cell. On the other hand, in case it is desired to connect the several superposed compartments electrically in series, to conform to thecapacity of the generatorA Ior for any other reason, this is very readily accomplished by merely reversing the position of the anode and cathode in the central compartment, .when the series connection may be made by short vertical -coupling members similarl in all respects to the bars 29.

1. In an electrolytic cell of the class described, a cell-body having therein a plurality of superposed chambers for electrolyte,

each of said chambers provided with opposite lateral openings for receiving the electrodes.

. 2. In an electrolytic cell of the class described, a symmetrical cell-body having therein a plurality of superposed chambers for electrolyte, each of said chambers provided with opposite lateral openings for receiving the electrodes, all of said Openings being of like form and area, whereby the seral electrodes are mutually interchangea e.

3. In an electrolytic cell of the class described, a cell-body having a chamber for electrolyte provided with opposite lateral openings, a pervious cathode and diaphragm adapted to cover one of said openings and extendinginto said chamber at a plurality of points, and a composite anode structure adapted to cover the other of said openings, the individual anodes projecting into said chamber between the cathode extensions.

4. In an electrolytic cell of the class described, a symmetrical cell-body having a chamber for electrolyte provided with opponormen site lateral openings of like form and area, a perforated cathode and diaphragm adapted to cover one of said openings and extending into said chamber at a plurality of polnts, and a composite anode structure adapted to cover the other of said openings, the individual anodes projecting into said .chamber between the cathode extensions,

and said anode and cathode structures being mutually interchangeable.

5. In a cell of the'class described, a cellbody having la plurality of superposed chambers for electrolyte, opposite` lateral openings for each chamber, a pervious cathodevand diaphragm adapted to cover one of the openings of each chamber and .extending thereinto at a plurality of points, and a composite anode structure adapted to close the other' opening of each said chamber the individual anodes projecting into said chamber between the -cathode extensions.

i 6. In an electrolytic cell of the class de scribed, a symmetrical cell-body havin a ,plurality of Superposed chambers for e ectrolyte, opposite lateral' openings for each chamber, all ofsaid openings of like form and area, a pervious cathode yand diaphragm adapted to cover one of the vopenings of each chamber and extending thereinto at a plurality of points, and a composite' anode structure ada ted to. close the other opening of each said iamber, the individual anodes projecting into each chamber between the cathode extensions, .and said anode and cathode structures being mutually nterchangeable, whereby the superposed units may be directly connected either in serles or in parallel. A

In testimony whereof l ax my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLARENCE w. MARSH.

Witnesses :y

CHARLES C. Bum',

E. K. NEWTON. 

